Emmanuel Acho is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, two-time Emmy Award-winning host, and creator of some of the most culturally resonant content in modern media. This fall, he returns with his boldest vision yet — SPEAKEASY: Sophisticated Sports Talk, a creator-native YouTube show launching September 4. Hosted by Acho and co-starring two-time Super Bowl Champion LeSean “Shady” McCoy and TikTok sensation Kieran Hickey-Semple (@carebearkieran), SPEAKEASY is the first fan-driven live sports afterparty blending athlete insight, celebrity drop-ins, DJ energy, and live fan interaction — all set inside a cinematic, bar-meets-lounge backdrop in West Hollywood.

Acho’s track record speaks for itself. He is the creator and host of Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.  What began as a digital series quickly amassed over 100 million views, sparked a national reckoning on race and empathy, and grew into a bestselling franchise under Oprah’s publishing imprint. The series earned Acho the Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Series, while his work as co-host of FS1’s SPEAK earned him the Emmy for Outstanding Emerging On-Air Talent.

A former NFL linebacker turned media trailblazer, Acho co-hosted FS1’s SPEAK and The Facility before launching SPEAKEASY. His NYT bestselling works include Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew (co-written with Noa Tishby). His viral TED Talk, “Why you should stop setting goals (yes, really)” stemming from his book, Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits,” has garnered over 1 million views and speaks to his core belief: challenge convention to spark transformation.

After earning his undergraduate degree in Sports Management, Acho was drafted by the Cleveland Browns.  The next year, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent most of his NFL career.  During the off-seasons, Emmanuel pursued a master’s degree in Sports Psychology at the University of Texas.  In his transition from the football field to broadcasting, Emmanuel became the youngest national football analyst and was recognized as a Forbes “30 under 30” honoree.  He is active within his family’s non-profit organization, Living Hope Christian Ministries, and successfully raised funds to build a hospital in rural Nigeria.

Lucy Aharish is an Israeli news presenter, journalist, and television host.

Born in 1981 in Dimona, Israel, Aharish was the only Arab Muslim student at her school. In the summer of 1987, a few months before she turned six years old, she was slightly injured when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at her family’s car by Palestinian militants while driving in the Gaza Strip.

Aharish is a graduate of the Hebrew University, where she studied political science and theater, and the Koteret School in Tel Aviv, completing her degree in journalism and a six-month internship inGermany. Upon her return, Aharish became the first Arab to present the news on prime time television in Israel.

For 3 years hosted the prime time news show on I24news channel in English, and was the show runner for the English and Arabic channel. For 5 years hosted a daily news talk show on Reshet broadcast, also directed and hosted several  documentaries on the channel. For the last two years the cofounder and head anchor on DemocratTV. A crowd funded independent social media platform, that became the biggest crowd funding project in Israel. She is well-known for promoting pluralism and interdenominational openness in Israel’s public agenda.

In 2015, she was awarded one of Israel’s highest honors and was selected to light a torch at  the national Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl, the theme of which was “groundbreaking Israelis.” She also received the OMETZ (courage) award in October 2015 for her fight against racism in Israeli society.

Now – at 2025, hosting a daily news TV show on Channel 13 in Israel. This year lucy was awarded by the movement for quality government in Israel In recognition of promoting a discourse of tolerance, equality, and mutual respect even in moments of national crisis and for being a bridge between communities. And just few days ago was awarded  by the Peres Center for Peace and innovation  for inspiring other women and for her contribution to the society in Israel and in the world.

Jacki Alexander is the CEO and President of HonestReporting, leading the organization’s strategic vision and direction. With over 15 years of prior experience at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), she played a key role in strengthening pro-Israel support across Florida and the Southeastern United States. Recognized as one of the “Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2024” by The Algemeiner, Jacki is bringing innovative ideas to the fight against anti-Israel disinformation campaigns and Israel advocacy.

She holds an Master’s Degree in the History of International Relations from the London School of Economics. In 2022, she was appointed to the Florida Department of Education’s Task Force on Holocaust Education.

Zoë Buckman (b. 1985 Hackney, East London) is a British, Jewish multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, installation, textiles, lens-based media, ceramics, neon, and painting, exploring themes of Intersectional Feminism, mortality, and equality.

Notable solo shows have included Who By Fire at Mindy Solomon Gallery Miami, TENDED at Lysles & King NYC, BLOODWORK at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery London, Nomi at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, No Bleach Thick Enough, at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London, Heavy Rag at Fort Gansevoort Gallery New York, Let Her Rave at Gavlak Gallery Los Angeles, Imprison Her Soft Hand at Project for Empty Space, Newark; Every Curve at PAPILLION ART, Los Angeles; and Present Life at Garis & Hahn Gallery, New York.

Group shows include those at The National Portrait Gallery London, SF MoMA, The Baltimore Museum of Art, Crystal Bridges Arkansas, The Jewish Museum NYC, The Neues Museum Nurenburg, The Lowe Art Museum, The Norton Museum, The Broad Museum, The Museum of Art & Design NYC, The Parish Art Museum NY, The Church Sag Harbor, MOCA Virginia, The Tang Museum, Skidmore College, The Camden Arts Centre, London, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Children’s Museum of the Arts, The Shirley Fitterman Center NY, Timothy Taylor Gallery NYC, MASSIMODECARLO Gallery Hong Kong, Mother Gallery, Beacon NY, Paul Kasmin Gallery NY, Goodman Gallery South Africa, Jack Shainman Gallery NY, Monique Meloche Chicago, NYU Florence Italy, Grunwald Art Gallery, Indiana University, and the Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta, GA and The National Museum of African-American History & Culture, Washington, DC.

Buckman studied at the International Center of Photography (ICP), was awarded an Art Matters Grant in 2017, The Art Change Maker Award 2019 at The New Jersey Visual Arts Center, and The Art and Social Impact Award 2020 at Baxter St NYC, and completed a residency at Mana Contemporary in 2017.

Public works include MENDED: a Times Square Midnight Moment, a mural, We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident, in collaboration with Natalie Frank at the Ford Foundation Gallery of New York & Live Arts in NYC, and various billboard projects with For Freedoms. In February 2018 Buckman unveiled her first Public Sculpture presented by Art Production Fund on Sunset Blv, Los Angeles, a large scale outdoor version of her neon sculpture Champ, which was up for 6 years.

Buckman’s work is included in the permanent collections of The Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC, The National Portrait Gallery, London, The Jewish Museum New York, The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, The Chrysler Museum Virginia, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Peabody Essex Museum, Boston.

Buckman lives and works in Brooklyn, NY and her first museum solo show opens autumn 2026 at The Perez Museum, Miami.

Soraya M. Deen is a Lawyer, Community Organizer, and an award-winning international activist.

She is the founder of Muslim Women Speakers and Nigerian Women Lead- a grass roots organization mobilizing women to fight extremism, antisemitism, and hate

She is an executive board member and coalition partner of AMMWEC – American Muslim Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council

She has her Public Leadership Credentials from Harvard.

Brandon Farbstein is a Gen Z powerhouse, activist, and speaker whose message of inclusion and empowerment has positioned him one of his generation’s most influential voices. With a global reach, Brandon inspires individuals and organizations to embrace self-acceptance, challenge stereotypes, and drive meaningful change. His collaborations with iconic companies like Meta, LVMH, and Marriott, combined with his advocacy for the disability community, have solidified his role as a leading force for progress.

Born with an extremely rare form of dwarfism, Brandon transformed his personal struggles with bullying and isolation into a catalyst for change. By 18, he championed two groundbreaking laws in Virginia — one addressing bullying prevention and the other mandating empathy and emotional intelligence education in K-12 schools. His ability to connect deeply with audiences has made him a sought-after speaker on prestigious stages, including the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), where he has inspired thousands of global leaders.

Brandon’s impact spans industries and audiences. Whether speaking to students, advising Fortune 100 companies, or empowering readers through his books Ten Feet Tall and A Kids Book About Self-Love, he equips people with tools to overcome limitations and live amplified lives. His dynamic presence and storytelling have made him a fixture at global conferences, leadership summits, and corporate events, leaving audiences inspired to drive change in their communities.

As a Founding Partner of Daniel Lubetzky’s Builders Movement and a board member for multiple organizations, Brandon is at the forefront of fostering belonging and social impact. Representing the disability community, the world’s largest minority group at 15% of the global population, he amplifies marginalized voices on the world stage. His work has earned him recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice for disability advocacy and the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Hero Against Hate award for combating discrimination.

Brandon is more than a speaker…he’s a movement. Through his mission to Elevate Empathy®, he continues to inspire action and ignite global change, proving that resilience, authenticity, and determination can transform lives and reshape the world.

Bianna Golodryga is an Emmy® Award-winning journalist. Based in New York, she anchors “One World with Zain Asher and Bianna Golodryga” weekdays at 11 am ET on CNN International and CNN Max and is CNN’s senior global affairs analyst.

Golodryga has reported extensively on Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, helped lead CNN’s extensive Russia-related coverage, and regularly fills in as host of signature CNN programs, including “Amanpour” and “Fareed Zakaria GPS.”

Golodryga is the co-author of bestselling middle grade book Don’t Feed the Lion, which explores how young people grapple with prejudice, antisemitism, allyship, and find the courage to speak up.

Golodryga lives in New York with her husband, Peter Orszag, and their children.

For the past 22 years, Yonit Levi has been the anchor of Israel’s top primetime news program on Channel 12, Israel’s most popular television station. Throughout her career she has conducted interviews with top world leaders, including President Joe Biden, President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, Secretary Mike Pompeo, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Nikki Haley, as well as international icons such as Bill Gates, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Jon Stewart.

Levi is the co-author of bestselling middle grade book Don’t Feed the Lion, which explores how young people grapple with prejudice, antisemitism, allyship, and find the courage to speak up.

In 2021 Levi started a weekly podcast, “UNHOLY: Two Jews on the News,” with Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian. The podcast discusses world affairs from a Jewish perspective and has listeners in more than 120 countries. Levi is married and shares three children with her husband, Ido Rosenblum.

Lindsay Pinchuk is an award-winning acquired founder, podcast host, and marketing consultant, and part of less than 1% of female founders who have successfully led a company through acquisition. She began publicly advocating for Israel and the Jewish community on October 8, 2023, after a video she shared went viral overnight. More than two years later, she remains a consistent voice of clarity and conviction. Despite losing nearly thousands of followers, Lindsay gained many more, and now travels the country sharing her message: It’s Never Wrong to Do What’s Right. Lindsay was named a 2025 “Women to Watch” by Jewish Women International. She is the founder of Dear FoundHer…, a top 0.5% podcast and community for women over forty in business. She lives on Chicago’s North Shore, but will always call Detroit home.

Benji Rosenzweig is a commercial real estate executive, public speaker, and entrepreneur with a deep commitment to community, identity, and storytelling. He has led complex corporate retail and urban development projects with a focus on revitalization and mission-aligned growth across Southeast Michigan.

Benji is a TEDx Detroit speaker and seasoned public presenter, with expertise in storytelling and corporate consulting on special needs advocacy and non-verbal communication. He currently serves as the national coordinator for multiple recovery communities at live music events (Yellow Balloon groups), organizing sober spaces and peer support for fans of bands like Umphrey’s McGee and Tyler Childers.

He is also the host of One Show at a Time: A Yellow Balloon Experience, a podcast focused on recovery, music, and personal transformation, with more than 85

published episodes. Benji is a participant in OpenDor Media’s Amplified program for Jewish content creators and is supported by Reboot, a national organization that fosters Jewish creative innovation.

In 2023, Benji launched Storied, a multimedia nonprofit platform that celebrates Jewish collaboration and contribution to modern music. Originally conceived as a live performance series, Storied has grown into a touring production, podcast, educational tool, and digital storytelling ecosystem. Through narrative, music, and intergenerational engagement, the project aims to center joy and pride in Jewish cultural life.

Alissa Schapiro, Ph.D. serves as Curator and Collections Specialist at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. She is the curator responsible for overseeing the Skirball’s collection of 30,000 objects related to Jewish culture and history, and she has curated and managed temporary exhibitions for the museum that include TORN Project by Susan Lerner (2025-2026), This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement (2023-2024), and RECLAIMED: A Family Painting (2023-2024). As a scholar, Schapiro often lectures to academic and museum audiences about twentieth-century U.S. art and culture, and she regularly consults on projects and publishes essays related to Holocaust history and memory. Her academic research on the relationship between U.S. art and antisemitism has been supported by institutions such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History. As a curator, Schapiro has contributed to exhibitions and catalogues for museums including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Schapiro holds a B.A. in Art History from Harvard University, an M.A. in Curatorial Studies from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and a Ph.D. in Art History from Northwestern University.

Raeefa Shams is the Director of Communications and Programming at the Academic Engagement Network (AEN). In her role, Raeefa is responsible for developing select programs and initiatives to educate and empower AEN’s faculty network, such as the Short Course and Faculty Fellowship, regional faculty convenings, and faculty delegations to Israel; strategizing communications for AEN’s members, supporters, partners, and other stakeholders; and contributing to AEN’s overall organizational strategy. She has written and presented about AEN’s work in a wide range of national and international fora. Prior to joining AEN, Raeefa consulted for higher educational institutions and international development organizations. Raeefa earned her B.A. in History from Wellesley College and her M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago. She is an active board member of Jewish National Fund-USA.

Eveline Shekhman is a healthcare executive, strategist, and national Jewish advocacy leader with more than 25 years of experience across healthcare systems, nonprofit leadership, and public engagement. She currently serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the American Jewish Medical Association (AJMA), leading the organization during a pivotal period marked by rising antisemitism in healthcare and academic medical settings.

Previously a member of AJMA’s Board, Eveline has played a central role in strengthening the organization’s governance, partnerships, and national advocacy on behalf of Jewish physicians, trainees, and healthcare professionals, with a focus on data-driven credibility and institutional engagement.

A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Eveline brings a deeply personal and professional commitment to Jewish safety and leadership. She serves on multiple national and local boards, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Jewish Federation National Women’s Philanthropy, Voices of Hope, GW Hillel, and the George Washington University Family Advisory Council, and is a Strategic Advisor to GW’s Program on Extremism. She is also active in AIPAC’s New Leadership Network and is a CT Political Network co-chair, supporting bipartisan advocacy and engagement with policymakers. She is a frequent speaker on antisemitism, healthcare, and community resilience.